Challenge and change : the big house in north-eastern Ireland 1878-c.1960

Author:

Purdue, Olwen Ruth

Awarding Body:

Queen's University Belfast

Current Institution:

Queen's University Belfast

Date of Award:

2008

Availability of Full Text:

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Abstract:

During the eighteenth and nineteenth century Ireland was dominated economically
and politically by a powerful elite whose ownership of land not only provided them with
wealth but also gave them access to positions ofpolitical influence on a local, national and
even international level. The closing years ofthe nineteenth century witnessed a powerful.
challenge to this elite on both an economic and a political front. While these developments
resulted in the rapid decline ofthe southern landed class and the loss ofmany oftheir big
houses, this thesis argues that the experience ofthe landed class in the north-eastern six
counties oflreland was very different in many respects.
It examines the serious impact that agricultural depression and land legislation had on
landlords throughout Ireland during the I880s and 1890s. It argues, however, that, through a
combination ofcareful management ofresources and more favourable land legislation in
Northern Ireland after 1921, northern landlords were placed in a much better position to
continue maintaining their country houses than were landlords in what was now the Free
State.
The thesis also investigates the eA1ent to which the northern landed class continued to
operate as a political and social elite in the opening decades ofthe twentieth century. It
examines the significance oftheir continuing social links with Britain's landed and political
elite and the importance ofthis for their continued relevance in twentieth century society. It
also examines the move that many ofthem made into leadership roles both in opposition to
~ome Rule and within the new state ofNorthern Ireland and argues that, although
increasingly challenged by a powerful middle class, their continued role in society had an
important influence in e:ll.1ending the survival ofthe big house in the north-east oflreland.